The Secret Way to a Better Shave in 2012

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Martial Vivot's salon for men in New York is one of those rare and excellent places that balances undeniable fanciness with a down-to-earth vibe that makes the place feel casual and clubby, but not pretentious. Sure, Mark Ronson, Daniel Boulud, and many other successful New York men get their $215 haircut here. But there's a chalkboard out back for impromptu fun during summer parties, and the rock blares a little loudly when you're sitting in the chair. This high-low mix was on particularly sharp display last week when I headed in for a straight-razor shave by a man named Garrett. I've only had a barber take a blade to my face a handful of times — and only in New York City, where that sort of thing is prevalent — but I'm willing to bet that if there was some sort of international face-shaving competition, Garrett would win. It's likely because he's well-trained, graceful, and damn nimble with a razor. But he was also telling me about a secret weapon he found recently: It's called Shave Secret, and he it picked up at his local "white trash store" — his words, not mine — on a whim, looking on the shelves for new items with which to experiment. It's about six bucks. And the packaging says that it can replace all the other products you currently use. While I wouldn't recommend that, I do plan on using Garrett's technique next time I shave at home. Just a few drops of the stuff as a pre-shave oil will prepare your mug. It can also help lubricate electric razors, apparently. So, yeah, secret's out.